John Zimmer, 29

Cofounder, LyftJohn Zimmer, a Cornell graduate, parlayed an education in hotel administration to help cofound a Lyft, an on-demand ridesharing service that employs everyday people as drivers. The company's pink mustachioed cars are now ubiquitous in cities like San Francisco, competing fiercely with cab drivers and blackcar service Uber. Lyft has raised more than $80 million in funding from venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Foudners Fund.